Device for inflating balloons and the like



Patented a. zz, 1940 UNITED: STATES PATENT ol=1 =|c1a'.

-. Arthur W. Gal-boll. Worcester, Mus.

Application November rams, Serial No. 242,354

4 Claims. (Ol. $26-20) made to form a part of the casing by means of The principal object of this invention is to provide a compact and convenient device by which toy and other balloons, tires, and the like can be inflated by means of a cartridge filled a with compressed air or, if more buoyancy is desired, hydrogen or even helium.

Other objects of the invention are to provide convenient means for inserting means for piercing the cartridge for letting air into the balloon and to provide a nozzle of such shape as to receive the open mouth of the balloon and hold the balloon firmly in place by its own elasticity applied to the said nozzle. Another object is to provide an improved piercing pin.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to d i in which Fig.1 is a longitudinal central sectional view of a preferred embodment of this'invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modification;

the accompanying Fig. 3, 4 and 5 are similar views of other modifications;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the form shown in Fig. 5, as indicated by the arrow 8; Y Fig. '7 is a view of another modification, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a preferred form of piercing pin on enlarged scale.

The main purpose of this invention is to pro- 3 vide adequate means for supporting the balloon firmly by its own elasticity in a position for receiving a charge of compressed air from a cartridge provided therefor and to provide for supporting the cartridge and balloon on the same holder.: l

The device comprises a casing l0 inside which a cartridge l'l previously filled with compressed air is located. This casing is provided with a nomle I! which is secured to the open end of the casing l0, preferably by a screwthread it long enough to prevent any escape of air or gas. The nozzle l2 in this form of the invention is shown as conical with a rounded end but, as will appear later, some other shapes can be employed. The essential feature is that the nozzle is large at one'end and small at the other so that the balloon I5 can be placed about it and the mouth ii of the balloon stretched on the nozzle to hold the balloon in place. The balloon is placed on the tip of the nozzle far enough up so that the natural resiliency of the mouth of the balloon will hold it on the nozzle in spite of the air under pressure that is forced into it by this device. This constitutes a very simple holder for the balicon and expander for its mouth and can bethe screwthread ll, as specified. A washer II is shown located inside the nozzle at the end toward the casing and serving the usual purpose of a washer.

Y The nozzle is provided with a longitudinal perforation 20 extending from one end to the other. It is also provided with a second central longitudinal perforation 2| 'for receiving a piercing pin 22. This piercing pin is located in said longitudinal perforation II and driven in to be seated at the end of it so that there will be no escape of air or other gas. It projects into a space in the washer l1 and preferably is provided with a slanting end 23. Of course, it is perforated all the way into this slanting end.

0n the other end of the casing I0 located in a screwthread 24 is a handle 25 which; obviously, can be turned to force the cartridge against the sharp end of the piercing pin. The pin pierces the flat end of the cartridge and allows the air under pressure to pass through the perforation 2| into the balloon. There is no way for the air or.

gas to escape on the way to the balloon, which will be filled with the air that has been compressed in the cartridge II and which, by its expansion into the balloon will inflate the balloon many times the size of the cartridge.

It will be seen that this is unitary. The cartridge is put in by entirely removing the handle 25 and is pierced by further motion of that ,handle inwardly. There are no partsto apply to the device. The only thing to do is to put on the balloon, as shown in Fig. 1. This constitutes a very simple .and convenient means for accomplishing. the above mentioned objects.

The-forms shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are based on the same principles as the device shown in Fig. 1 although the operation in Fig. 5 is different. In Figs. 3 and 4 it is intendedthat the handle will operate the same as in Fig. 1. The only important difference is in the piercing pin. In -Fig. 3 the piercing pin 26 is provided with screwthreads or other toughening on its slanted outside surface to permit it to enter the cartridge more freely and it is also integrally mounted on a metal washer 21. The nozzle 28 is integrally connected with a casing member 29 which screws into the main casing It in an obvious manner. In this case the shape of the nozzle is changed materially but a balloon can be mounted on it in the same way as in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 4 the change consists simply in making the piercing pin 30 considerably blunter but it is still integral with the washer 21 and the nozzle 28 here is shown as the same shape as in Fig. 8.

In- Fig. 5 the nozzle 3| is of a different shape and it is provided with two projections 32 which constitute together a handle by which it can be screwed in along screwthreads 33 for the purpose of forcing the piercing pin 24 into the cartfidge.

. The latter is located in the casing 35 which has a solid end instead of an adjustable and removable one. Here the piercing pin is surrounded and held in position by a washer 36 of another variety. The balloon is placed upon it as before and the handles 32 are turned to screw up the pin 34 until it pierces the cartridge.

In the form shown in Fig. 2 the conditions are quite similar to those shown in Fig. 5 with some change in the nozzle 31 which is not provided with an operating handle. The piercing pin 22 is like the one shown in Fig. 1. The nozzle is provided with a recess 38 into which the end of the cartridge projects. The rear end of the casing 35 is solid and may be screwed up by hand until the cartridge which projects into the recess 38 is pierced.

In the form shown in Fig. 7 a cartridge II has a screwthreaded end 40 which fits a screwthread in the nozzle 4| and a piercing pin 42 extends through the nozzle and is provided with a piercing point on its inner end whichperforms the same function as the others. 7

In all these forms the cartridge is filled with air, or some light gas instead of C02. The instrument itself contains the nozzle for the balloon and the piercing pin releases the air in the cartridge and allows the filling of the balloon without any means for protecting the article to be filled. No leakage can occur and the cartridge can be removed and replaced in an extremely simple manner.

For filling tires the nozzle is provided at its end with an internal screwthreadedrecess 50. When used for inflating balloons this does not affect the result as shown in Fig. 1. When filling a tire the cartridge is filled with compressed air. A rubber hose 5| with a terminal screwthreaded hollow connection l2'is employed. The threaded connection is screwed into the recess 50. Of course, the other end of the tube is provided with the usual valve. This arrangement can be applied to each of the forms shown.

This construction will be of use to any driver who has a puncture or even a more serious deflation. This device will enable him to reach a garage without running on the rim.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. A device forinflating balloons or the like comprising a tubular cartridge-receiving casing internally screw threaded at at least one end, a one-piece unitary nozzle including a threaded nipple adapted to be screwed into the end of the casing and an external portion integral therewith of substantially conical shape adapted to receive the expansible neck of a balloon or the like to insure a fluid tight flt during inflation, said nozzle having a passage extending therethrough, and a cartridge piercing pin located at the inner end of said passage having a passage communicating with the passage in the nozzle, said nozzle having a recess adjacent the pin toprovide a guide for the neck of the cartridge as it is forcedinto contact with the piercing pin.

2. An inflating device as set forth inclaim 1, wherein both ends of the tubular casing are internally threaded and a cartridge propelling element is screwed into the end opposite the nozzle.

,3. An inflating device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the end of the casing opposite the nozzle is closed, and the cartridge is forced against the piercing pin by rotating the nozzleand casing relative to each other. 

